Better weather in September meant the month saw retail's first YoY rise in footfall this year, with UK footfall increasing by +3.3% in September, up from -0.4% in August – reports BRC-Sensormatic.
High street footfall increased by +0.9% (up from -0.3% in August), retail park footfall increased by +7.3% (up from from +2.6% in August), and shopping centre footfall increased by +2.3% (up from -1.8% in August).
All four devolved nations saw increases in footfall YoY: Northern Ireland by +2.5%; Scotland by +0.7%; England by +3.6%; and Wales by +5.4%.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), says: “Footfall rose for the first time in over a year as mild temperatures, combined with weak footfall last year, led to strong growth in September. It was neither too hot nor too cold for customers, leaving retailers in the sweet spot for additional shopping trips. This compared positively to last year when the intense heatwave caused many people to stay home and delay purchases of autumnal clothes and products.
"Retail parks continued to perform particularly well as the increased rain drove some people towards shopping areas with nearby parking.
“While retailers will welcome this autumnal boost, it is the next few months, in the run-up to Christmas, that are most important."
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, adds: “September saw a long-awaited positive uptick in footfall, with total shopper numbers returning the first positive YoY performance since July 2023.
"While the high street and shopping centres saw improvements compared to last year, retail parks were once again the stand-out shopping destination, with their tenant mix of out-of-town supermarkets and discount retail offerings helping to drive shopper traffic.
"This September’s growth is built on last year’s suppressed footfall from September 2023’s heatwave. While retailers will welcome the boost, hoping that this translates into sales, many will still be eyeing it with caution.”
